Shipping body issues warning as Red Sea attacks by Houthi militants worsen

Urgent action must be taken to stop attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea, leading industry groups said yesterday, after a second ship was sunk by Yemen’s Houthi militants.

The Iran-aligned fighters first launched drone and missile strikes on the important trade route in November in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

In more than 70 attacks, they have also seized one vessel and its crew and killed at least three seafarers.

“It is deplorable that innocent seafarers are being attacked while simply performing their vital jobs which keep the world warm, fed and clothed,” the world’s top shipping associations said in a joint statement.

“These attacks must stop now. We call for states with influence in the region to safeguard our innocent seafarers and for the swift de-escalation of the situation in the Red Sea.”

The Greek-owned Tutor coal carrier attacked by Yemen’s Houthi militants in the Red Sea last week has sunk.

The vessel was hit by missiles and an explosive-laden remote-controlled boat.

International naval forces have been deployed to defend ships in the Red Sea, but the attacks have increased. Insurance sources yesterday said there was also mounting concern over the use of attack drone boats by the Houthis.

“They are harder to defend against and potentially more lethal as they strike the waterline,” one industry source said.

“Missiles have – to date – mainly caused deck and superstructure damage of ships.”

There have been 10 Houthi strikes so far in June, compared with five in all of May, said Munro Anderson, head of operations at marine war risk and insurance specialist Vessel Protect, part of Pen Underwriting.

“The first successful use of an unmanned surface vessel represents a new challenge for commercial shipping within an already complex environment,” he added.

Insurance industry sources said that additional war risk premiums, paid when vessels sail through the Red Sea, had hovered close to 0.7pc of the value of a ship in recent days from around 1pc earlier this year.

They added that with a second ship sinking and the losses likely to emerge from that, rates are likely to firm up, adding hundreds of thousands of dollars of extra costs to every voyage.

Ships must divert around southern Africa, which is the best way to protect seafarers, said Stephen Cotton, general secretary with the International Transport Workers’ Federation, the leading seafarer’s union.

“We would also welcome proper escorts and the shielding of ships by naval forces, which would reduce the risks of ships being hit,” he added.

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